Platform assembly for multiple chain transport device

ABSTRACT

As disclosed herein, a platform for a multiple chain pair transport device includes a plurality of spaced rigid linear members coupled at their ends to selected chain pairs and a plurality of support members which span the distance between the chain pairs. Selected support members are secured to the spaced rigid linear members and supported thereby, and the support members have double-barreled configurations with keyways formed therein. Successive support members include overlapping portions that are hinged together by pin members which permit the support members to flex upwardly in the absence of a load bearing thereagainst and to be rigidly locked in horizontal position in response to loads bearing downwardly against the support members.

[4 1 Nov. 6, 1973 PLATFORM ASSEMBLY FOR MULTIPLE CHAIN TRANSPORT DEVICE[75] Inventors: Guenther L. Kuehl, Peekskill;

Alfonso Depietro, Valhalla, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Guenther Systems, Inc., Buchanan,

22 Filed: June 1, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 148,385

Franz 198/195 1,358,494 11/1920 Arndt 305/47 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 171,317 12/1965 U.S.S.R [98/154 Primary ExaminerEvon C.Blunk Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson AttorneyBrumbaugh, Graves,Donohue & Raymond [57] ABSTRACT As disclosed herein, a platform for amultiple chain pair transport device includes a plurality of spacedrigid linear members coupled at their ends to selected chain pairs and aplurality of support members which span the distance between the chainpairs. Selected support members are secured to the spaced rigid linearmembers and supported thereby, and the support members havedouble-barreled configurations with keyways formed therein. Successivesupport members include overlapping portions that are hinged together bypin members which permit the support members to flex upwardly in theabsence of a load bearing thereagainst and to be rigidly locked inhorizontal position in response to loads bearing downwardly against thesupport members.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU NOV 6 I973 SHEET 1!]? 3 FIG. 3

'INVENTORS. GUENTHER L. KUEHL 8| ALFONSO DEPIETRO their ATTORNEYSPATENIEmmv 6 ms 3770.106

SHEET 2 BF 3 F/GZ INVENTORS. GUENTHER L. KUEHL a ALFONSO DEPIETRO M 4/M, llgoolum 5 A47 06 their ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to platform assemblies and, more particularly, toplatform assemblies for use in transport devices of the multiple chainpair type.

In the recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,145, assigned to the assigneeof the present invention, there is disclosed a multiple chain pairtransport device that represents a totally new and unique development inthe field of lift and transport devices. In connection with thedisclosed multiple chain pair transport device, there is provided aplatform that effectively comprises a plurality of independent platformsconnected at their ends to selected chain pairs which move together toform one platform. The multiple narrow platforms move together duringhorizontal and vertical movement and simply breakup into units when thechains go around the drive and guide sprockets.

This unique feature of the foregoing platform assembly makes it possibleto combine many lifting and transporting units into one continuoussystem, and combining numerous vertical and horizontal movements intoone continuous flow, notwithstanding the direction of movement.Furthermore, by virtue of the multiple chain pair configuration of thetransport device and the multiple platform construction of theplatforms, the load carrying capability of the device is vastlyimproved. This improvement is due to the even distribution of the loadthroughout the platform.

The foregoing type platforms are adapted particularly to carry unitloads of material, e.g. containers, which are of such size that theyspan adjacent members of the platforms. Smaller unit loads ofmaterialwhich would otherwise drop between the members of the platforms must beeither bound or placed in containers, or on skids and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a platform for multiple chain pair transportdevices that are designed to carry unit loads of material withoutlimitation as to the sizes of the unit loads of material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a platformcomprising in combination the multiple independent platform members ofthe type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,145, and selectively flexibleinterconnecting members spanning the length of the platform formed bythe multiple platform members.

These and other objects are accomplished by the platform of the presentinvention which comprises a plurality of spaced rigid linear members,each member being connected at its ends to one pair of a plurality ofpairs of offset and movable endless flexible support members adapted tobe driven in a plurality of directions, and a plurality of supportmembers for spanning a selected distance between the chain pairs.Selected ones of the support members are supported by the spaced rigidlinear members. Further provided are a plurality of coupling memberswhich interconnect successive support members, the coupling membersbeing fixed to one of the support members and rotatable through apredetermined arc in the other of the successive support members toenable relative movement between successive support members.

In one embodiment of the invention, successive support members areconnected together by one or more relatively short connecting memberswhich enable relative and predetermined rotational movement between thesuccessive support members. In a second embodiment, successive supportmembers include overlapping portions that are hinged together by pinmembers that permit the support members to flex upwardly in the absenceof a load bearing thereagainst and to be rigidly locked in a loadsupporting position in response to loads bearing downwardly against thesupport members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four chain pair transport device witha platform assembly of the type disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No.3,578,145;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a platform assembly ina four chain pair transport device arranged according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the platform assembly of FIG. 2 takenalong line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a platformassembly in a four chain pair transport device arranged according to thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, there isshown a perspective view of a transport device 10, with a platformassembly of the type disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,145, andcomprising four pairs of chains of the type disclosed in the U.S. Pat.No. 3,583,550, which is also assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention. In particular, the transport device 10 comprises four chainpairs, 12, 14, 16 and 18 that are driven and guided in prescribedendless loops by drive and guide members (not shown), such as sprockets.The chain pairs 12, 14, 16 and 18 comprise laterally spaced chains 12a,12b; 14a, 14b; 16a 16b; and 18a, 18b, respectively. Because of theconfiguration of the chains, only two of the four chain pairs areoffset. Specifically, the chains 12a, 18a and 12b, 18b are arranged tointerlock and thereby move in the same plane and over the samesprockets. Similarly, the chains 14a, 16a and 14b, 16b are arranged tointerlock and move in the same plane over the same sprockets.

In this arrangement, the lateral spacing between the chain pairs 14 and16 is greater than the displacement between the chain pairs 12 and 18.Thus, the chain pairs 12 and 18 may be referred to as the inner chainpairs and the pairs 14 and 16 may be referred to as the outer chainpairs. For a more detailed disclosure of the construction and operationof chain drive systems comprising chains of the type shown in FIG. 1,reference may be made to the U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,550.

As shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal distance between the chain pairs 12and 18 is determinative of the required longitudinal extent of a loadcarrying platform which is conveyed by the chain pairs 12, 14, 16 and18. In particular, a platform 20 is provided which includes four tubemembers 21, 22, 23 and 24 which are attached to the chains 12a, 12b;14a, 14b; 16a, 16b;and 18a, 18b, respectively, through load carryingrollers 21a, 21b; 22a, 22b; 23a, 23b; and 24a, 24b,

respectively. In order to provide a platform having a uniform lateraldimension, load carrying rollers 22a, 22b and 23a, 23b which affix thebars 22 and 23 to the outer chain pairs 14 and 16 are located inwardlyof the chain pairs 14 and 16 to a greater extent than are the rollers21a, 21b and 24a, 24b spaced from the chain pairs 12 and 18. Asdescribed in detail in the US. Pat. No. 3,578,145, sets of offset andstationary lateral and vertical guides may be mounted on the frame thatsupports the chain pairs and related accessory equipment. The rollers21a, 21b; 22a, 22b; 23a, 23b; and 24a, 24b are adapted to travel in theguides, the guides providing support for the chain pairs 12, i4, 16 and18 and reducing lateral vibration between the chain pairs.

In accordance with the present invention there is shown in FIG. 2 aunique and novel platform assembly 30 in a four chain pair transportdevice of the type illustrated in FIG. i. In FIG. 2, the elements of thetransport device corresponding to the same elements in the FIG. 1transport device are identified by the same numbers. The platformassembly 30 comprises a plurality of notched support members 32-39having doublebarreled configurations, which may be, for example,extruded aluminum slats or tubes, that are coupled together by hingemembers 40a, 40b, 40c 46a, 46b, 46c, respectively. The hinge members40a-46c have the same double-barreled configurations as the supportmembers 32-39. The support members 32-39 span the distance between thesupport rollers 2la-24a and 21b-24b disposed on either side of theplatform 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge members 40a-46a fit into alignednotches formed in successive support members 32-39. The support membershave double-barreled configurations formed with keyways therein as shownand the metal defining the openings 32a, 32b 39a, 39b forming thedouble-barreled configuration of each support member includes an arcuatecutout formed therein. The hinge members are similarly provided withkeyways and arcuate cutouts in the metal forming the circular openingsin the hinge members. A plurality of splined tubes 48-63 are fittedthrough the double-barreled openings 32a-39b formed in the supportmembers and through the corresponding openings formed in the hingemembers 40a-46c when the hinge members are located in the alignedcutouts formed in successive support members.

The protruding keys of the end splined tubes 48 and 63 extend into thekeyways formed in the openings 32a and 39b of the end support members tosecure the end support members to the linear tubes 21 and 24 as will bedescribed in detail hereinbelow.

Because, however, of the offset relationship between the support members32-39 and the hinge members Mia-46c when the hinge members are locatedin aligned cutouts formed in successive support members, the protrudingkeys of the tubes 49-62 extend into the protruding keys of the tubes54-56, for example, extend into the keyways formed in the hinge members4211-430 to thereby fix the hinge members to the tubes, but not into thekeyways formed in the openings of adjacent support members 35 and 36.Rather, the protruding keys of the tubes 54-56 extend into the freespaces defined by the arcuate cutouts formed in the metal defining theopenings of the support members 35 and 36. In this manner, the supportmembers 35 and 36 are rotatable with respect to the hinge members4241-430 through an angular distance that is defined by the extent ofthe cutouts in each of the openings in the support members 35 and 36.The above-described relationship of the tubes to the support members andhinge members may, of course, be reversed, as illustrated by tubes 59-62and the corresponding support members 37-39 and hinge members 45a-46c.The splined tube members 48-63 may be pinned or otherwise mounted withinthe support and hinge members to prevent the tubes from movinglengthwise of the members once the tubes have been inserted, as will beunderstood.

In light of the foregoing, it will be seen therefore that the supportmembers 32-39 can bend downwardly from a horizontal plane until theprotruding keys of the tube members 49-62 engage the metal, referred toas the upper stop," defining the openings in the support members 34-36and the hinge members 40a-41c and 45a-46c. Upward deflection by thesupport members 32-39 is precluded by the engagement between theprotruding keys of the tubes 49-62 and the metal, referred to as thelower stop, defining the openings in the support members 34-36 and thehinge members 40a-41c and 45a-46c. Thus, the platform 30 isunidirectionally flexible, i.e. in the upper direction, which enables itto bend around and under sprockets, as the case may be, as the platformis conveyed between its unloading and loading locations. On the otherhand, the platform 30 is maintained flat and inflexible as the platformis conveyed from the location where unit loads of material are depositedonto the platform to the location where the unit loads of material areunloaded.

As best shown in FIG. 3, it will be seen that the splined tube members48, 53, 58 and 63 are fitted around the tube members 21, 22, 23 and 24,respectively. Thus, the tube members 21-24 carry the platform 30 andfull advantage is taken of increased load carrying capability providedby the plurality of chain pairs 12, 14, 16 and 18, as described in theU.S. Pat. No. 3,578,145. As shown in FIG. 3, the tube member 24 has anoutside diameter which is significantly less than the inside diameter ofthe splined tube 63 with the result that there exits a clearance betweenthe member 24 and the tube 63. Accordingly, there will exist duringtravel by the platform 30 relative movement between the splined tube 63and the tube member 24. Although not shown, the other end tubemember 21is similarly constructed with the'result that there exits a clearancebetween end tube member 21 and the splined tube 48 and movement ispermitted therebetween. Thus, the platform 30 possesses flexibility atits ends, which is highly desirable, and is not locked into place.

Unlike the end tubes 21 and 24, the center tubes 22 and 23 have aradially thickened construction with the result that there is acorrespondence between the out-.

side diameter of the tubes 22 and 23 and the inside diameters of thesplined tubes 53 and 58. In practice, unit loads of material aregenerally centrally disposed on the platform 30 so that the center tubes22 and 23 are required to support the greatest amount of weight. Thisthen is the reason that the center tubes 22 and 23 are constructed for agreater load carrying capability than are the end tubes 21 and 24.

In operation, the platform assembly 30 provides a flat and rigidsupporting surface on which unit loads of material can be deposited andconveyed from a loading platform or the like through a prescribed flowpath to an unloading platform or the like. Once the unit loads ofmaterial have been unloaded, the assembly 30 is guided through aprescribed return flow path to its loading position. It is in thisreturn flow path where platform flexibility is required and theconfiguration of the platform of the present invention provides therequisite flexibility.

In a second illustrative platform assembly arranged according to thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 4, there is shown a platformassembly 70 comprising a plurality of support members 72-86 havingoverlapping portions which are interlocked in the manner describedbelow. Again, the elements of the transport device corresponding to thesame elements in the FIG. 1 device are identified by the same numbers.The support members 72-86 span the distance between the support rollersZia-24a and 2lb-24b disposed on either side of the platform 70.

The support members 72-86 have double-barreled configurations within theopenings of which a plurality of interconnecting splined tubes 88-103extend. As with the support members shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of thedouble-barreled openings is formed with a keyway on one side and anarcuate cutout formed on the other side. As with the platform assembly30 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the splined tubes 88, 93, 98 and 103 are fittedabout the supporting tube members 21, 22, 23 and 24. The protruding keysof the tube members 88 and 103 fit into keyways formed in the left andright side barrels of the support members 72 and 86, respectively. Toimpart unidirectional flexibility to the platform 70, the protrudingkeys of the tubes 89-102 extend into the keyways of alternate supportmembers, e.g. members 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 and into thearcuate cutouts formed in the metal defining the circular openings inthe other support members, e.g. members 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83 and 85.In accordance with this construction of the platform 70, the platformwill flex in the upper direction to enable the platform to be drivenaround and under sprockets, as the case may be, and will be maintainedin a rigid position to convey unit loads of material from a loadingplatform to an unloading platform.

Although the invention has been described herein with reference tospecific embodiments, many modifications and variations therein willreadily be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, springsmay be mounted within the double-barreled support members of either theFIG. 2 or FIG. 4 platform to exert an upwardly or downwardly directedforce on the support members as may be necessary or desirable.Accordingly, all such variations and modifications are included withinthe intended scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a platform assembly for a multiple chain pair transport devicehaving a plurality of spaced rigid linear members coupled at their endsto selected chain pairs, the improvement comprising a plurality ofsupport members for spanning a selected distance between the chainpairs, selected ones of said members being supported by the spaced rigidlinear members, and a plurality of coupling means interconnectingsuccessive support members, successive support members includingoverlapping portions adapted to fixedly receive and rotatably receive,respectively, a coupling means, the support members havingdouble-barreled configurations formed with keyways therein, each of theopenings forming the double-barreled configuration of each supportmember comprising a incomplete circuit to thereby provide an arcuatecutout, each coupling means comprising a splined pin member extendinginto a keyway of the support member adapted to fixedly receive the pinmember and into an arcuate cutout of the opening of the support memberadapted to rotatably receive the splined pin member to enable relativemovement between successive support members.

2. A platform assembly according to claim 1 wherein the splined pinmembers comprise splined tube members, selected ones of which areadapted to receive the spaced rigid linear members. 1

3. In a platform assembly for a multiple chain pair transport devicehaving a plurality of spaced rigid linear members coupled at their endsto selected chain pairs, the improvement comprising a plurality ofsupport members for spanning at least a selected distance between thechain pairs, selected ones of said members being supported by the spacedrigid linear members, and a plurality of coupling means interconnectingthe support members, each coupling means interconnecting two adjacentsupport members and being fixedly received and rotatably received,respectively, in overlapping portions of said two adjacent supportmembers, the support members having double-barreled configu rationsformed with keyways therein, each of the openings forming thedouble-barreled configuration of each support member comprising anincomplete circle to thereby provide an arcuate cutout, each couplingmeans comprising a splined pin member, a protruding key of the pinmember extending into a keyway of the support member fixedly receivingthe pin member and into an arcuate cutout of an opening of the supportmember rotatably receiving the pin member to enable relative movementbetween said two adjacent support members, the support members includingmain support members having selectively spaced cutouts formed thereinand hinge support members extending between and into the cutouts ofadjacent main suport members.

4. A platform assembly according to claim 3 wherein the splined pinmembers comprise splined tube members, selected ones of which areadapted to receive the spaced rigid linear members.

zgz g v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,770,106 Date-d November 6, 1973 lnven fl Guanine]; 1,, b] and A] fgnsoDegietro 7 It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 15, after "invention" insert a comma; Column 3, line 56,delete "protruding keys of the tubes 49-62 extend into the";

Column 4, line 41, "exits" should be --exists; Column 4, line 46,"exits" should be -exists; and Column 6, line 12, "circuit" should be-circle-.

Signed and 'sealed this 9th day of April 197A. 4

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. In a platform assembly for a multiple chain pair transport devicehaving a plurality of spaced rigid linear members coupled at their endsto selected chain pairs, the improvement comprising a plurality ofsupport members for spanning a selected distance between the chainpairs, selected ones of said members being supported by the spaced rigidlinear members, and a plurality of coupling means interconnectingsuccessive support members, successive support members includingoverlapping portions adapted to fixedly receive and rotatably receive,respectively, a coupling means, the support members havingdouble-barreled configurations formed with keyways therein, each of theopenings forming the double-barreled configuration of each supportmember comprising a incomplete circuit to thereby provide an arcuatecutout, each coupling means comprising a splined pin member extendinginto a keyway of the support member adapted to fixedly receive the pinmember and into an arcuate cutout of the opening of the support memberadapted to rotatably receive the splined pin member to enable relativemovement between successive support members.
 2. A platform assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein the splined pin members comprise splinedtube members, selected ones of which are adapted to receive the spacedrigid linear members.
 3. In a platform assembly for a multiple chainpair transport device having a plurality of spaced rigid linear memberscoupled at their ends to selected chain pairs, the improvementcomprising a plurality of Support members for spanning at least aselected distance between the chain pairs, selected ones of said membersbeing supported by the spaced rigid linear members, and a plurality ofcoupling means interconnecting the support members, each coupling meansinterconnecting two adjacent support members and being fixedly receivedand rotatably received, respectively, in overlapping portions of saidtwo adjacent support members, the support members having double-barreledconfigurations formed with keyways therein, each of the openings formingthe double-barreled configuration of each support member comprising anincomplete circle to thereby provide an arcuate cutout, each couplingmeans comprising a splined pin member, a protruding key of the pinmember extending into a keyway of the support member fixedly receivingthe pin member and into an arcuate cutout of an opening of the supportmember rotatably receiving the pin member to enable relative movementbetween said two adjacent support members, the support members includingmain support members having selectively spaced cutouts formed thereinand hinge support members extending between and into the cutouts ofadjacent main suport members.
 4. A platform assembly according to claim3 wherein the splined pin members comprise splined tube members,selected ones of which are adapted to receive the spaced rigid linearmembers.